Compact television receiver antenna



July 1 l, 1950 c. R. EDELSOHN COMPACT TELEVISION RECEIVER ANTENNA Filed on. 15 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 N Y. v w 33% ma E VD, E w m 3 R, m [I m m W2 g 6 B 6 w 2 M G W #5 Juiy 11, 1950 c. R. EDELSOHN COMPACT TELEVISION RECEIVER ANTENNA 5 Sheets-Sheet L Filed Oct. 15 1949 INVENTOR. CHARLES R. EDELSOHN July 11, 1950 c. R. EDELSOHN 2,514,992

COMPACT TELEVISION RECEIVER ANTENNA Filed Oct. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTOR.

CHARLES R. EDELSOHN ATTORNEYS Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE "COMPACT TELEVISION RECEIVER ANTENNA Charles R. Edelsohn, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignmto Avco Manufacturing Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application October 15, 1949, 'seriaiNo. 121,547

(01.- zsoe-cs') 14 Claims.

The present ini'renti'o' is a com act, confined antenna system. The term "eonfined means that the antenna system is intended ior' installasen in a television ieeeivercatinet.

, The primary object'of the-invention is to provide a unitary antenna system which operates as a broadly tuned antenna "for both of the two spaces V. F. Standard television broadcast bands (54-88 fiiigacyls and 174-216 megacycles). I I

Another object 6f the antenna 'is to provide a physics-11 fleiiihle antenna system requiring a aim-mam of space, which 'c'a'nbe confined within a television receiver cabinet, without requiring radical departures iihin conventional chassis designs "or increases in cabinet size, "or physically 'ii'pa-nd'ed to improve its performance where cabinet design will permit.-

' naceera'eiice with the iiiifentio'ii'there is'piovide'd ajfolded dipole antenna (ID, H, I2, 13, I4, Fig. '1') having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughiiut the iip'per band (174-216 'iiiac'y'cles'), a two-"conductor transmission line '(5, I6 matched to said circle, a pair of output terminals 11, i 8 :oneXIl) "iii which is integral with one "conductor 15 (if said means a closed-circiiited section (I 9, 2%, 2|) interposed between the "end cf the other conductor it 'aiidthe 'cthr terminal 18. (if crie-half wavefs'ubstantially atth'e "center of the 'iipiier'b'and whereby it acts as a shoit circuit "efl 'ejctively t'o'"c nhect'sai'd other t'rr'iiiii I8 and said other cdn'diic'tor t'cgether uring "upper hand operation. The electrical lengths of the transmis'sion line F5, It and the section I9, 20, '21! and the upper-case antenna it, II, 'IZ "It, I4 are "such that they cooperate effectively to runetion'as folded dipole which is'broa'dly resonant throughout the lower standard television broadcan hand (548'8 -me'i'ac'ycles). During upperband operation the ""s'ction i9, 29, 2I collectively designated "8 does not interfere with the operation of the uppe'r'band iolded dip'ol'e I0, I I, I2, I3, -I-4 collectively dsignated"5, 6, and line I5, I6 collectively designated 1-.

For a-better understanding of the present in vention, together with other-and further object's, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the "accompanying drawings, in which there are shown three illustrative embodiments 0f the antenna system in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a circuit schematic employed as an aid in describing the underlying theory of the con- "struction and operation of the invention;

This section has an electrical length Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of a preferred ty e of antenna in accordance with the invention, particularly suitable for installation in "a "small size receiver cabinet;

Figs. 3 and 4 are top and perspective views of other forms of the invention, shown in configurations suitable for incorporation in a television receiver cabinet of larger size; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the transmission line included'in the Various illustrativ'e forms of antenna herein disclosed.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a folded dipole antenna which is so proportioned and dimensioned as to attain li'a1f-wave wires c'iinne'cted together at the ends H, "I3 and brought out to a transmission line I5, it. 'Since the dimensions which should be provided for a folded dip'oleante'nn'a for the 'upper television band are well-known 'to those skilled in the art and will vary with the dielectric eonstem; of the surrounding medium, it is not necessary to specifydetailed dimensions for the folded dipole 10, II, l2, I3, 14. However, a length'of 25 inches (between II and I3) and a spacing between cdnducto'rs of approximately 1% inch have been found entirely satisfactory in one commercially successful device made in accordance with the teachings of the intention. The i-olde d dipole Ifl,1|,'|2,13,and I l may be made up from a single section of parallelepair transmission line such as the well-known Amphenol twin lead 300 ol'iin transmission line. While Twin Lead has been found very suitable, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that ordinary wire, metallized :paper 139.13%,01 thin sheet metal "strip, for example, or even rods-could be employed within the spirit-of the generic claims appended hereto. The Twin Lead type of linecomprises two spaced conductors secured in a flexible assembly by a molding 25 (Fig. 5) of polyethylene dielectric.

nny fiexible dielectric willsufiice for this-purpose.

line 5,16

A folded dipole has an'input impedance of approximately 300 ohms at resonance, and. it is impedance of the folded dipoles and line.

therefore desirable to employ a non-resonant 300 ohm transmission line I5, is, terminated by the folded dipole in its characteristic impedance.

The 300 ohm transmission line I5, i6 is prop" erly matched to the upper band folded dipole. The transmission line l5, i6 is preferably of a parallel-pair construction such as the Twin Lead line mentioned. It will be appreciated that other types of transmission line may be employed for the elements [5, I6, but a parallel-pair type of line is preferred so that the-folded-dipole iii, H, [2, l3, M,- and the line l5, l6 may be made from the same type of standard commercial line mate-- rial.

One lead of the transmission line constitutes an output terminal I1. Between the other out- I put terminal 18 and the end of line 16 is a closedcircuited section consisting of spaced parallel conductors l9 and 2!, soldered together at 29. The electrical length of this section is approximately one-half wave length at the center of the upper frequency band. Therefore this section functions as a closed circuit during upper band operation and in effect connects output terminal [8 to the end of transmission line I6. Output terminal l8 isintegral with one lead of the section, which may also be made of Twin Lead line. The output terminals I! and 18 are connected to a two-terminal plug 4 in any suitable manner, but it is preferred that the conductors 23 and 24 leading to plug 4 be as short as possible and that they maintain the characteristic A length of four inches is satisfactory.

The upper band operation of the Fig. 1 antenna will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the dipole portions 5 and 6 simply functioning as a folded dipole, the line I functioning as a transmission line, properly matched to the dipole, and the section 8 operating as a short circuit effectively to connect output terminal [8 to transmission line conductor 16. During upper band operation this antenna functions as a straightforward center-fed type of antenna, the transmission line being connected in balanced relationship to the antenna portions. The overall electrical length of the conductor H), II, l2, l3, and I4 approximates one wave length at the mid-frequency'of the upper band, so that the folded di ole is broadly resonant throughout the upper band.

During lower band operation the conductor 2 I, 20, and IQ of section 8,16 of line 1, l4, l3, l2, H, and ID of the upper band folded dipole, and I5 of line 1 function collectively as a half-wave folded dipole for the lower band, the total electrical length of the conductive path formed by proceeding in the seouence indicated approximating one wave length at the lower band. The short connecting line 23. 24 is non-resonant, and its connection to the last-mentioned lower band folded di ole is unsymmetrical and not in balance. During lower band operation the folded dipole 5, 6 for the upper band, the transmission line i and the section 8 function together as a folded dipole.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the presence of section 8 does not interfere with upper band operation in any way. Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention suitable for installation within the cabinet of a small size television receiver. This antenna is mounted on a suitable support, preferably made of one continuous piece of stiff cardboard or the like. This support is generally rectangular in shape, and it comprises integral side members 30 and 3! and an integral top member 32. Antenna portion 5 is simply laid on top of the support, and portion 6 is permitted to hang down the side thereof, the end which terminates at E3 being bent forwardly. The transmission line 7 is extended forwardly and then downwardly and then brought through an opening in the support member to the interior thereof. The section 8 extends upwardly outside of and. adjacent side 3| and is then brought past an opening on that side to a posi tion on top of member 32 and is finally laid back alongside the edge of the top member in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The assembly comprising the support members 30, 3|, and 32, to gether with the antenna, may be very easily placed within the interior of a television cabinet. It will be understood that the usual chassis components are placed within the interior of the support 30, 3!, 32. The plug 4 is inserted in a suitable socket which is provided on the receiver and suitably connected to the antenna input circult of the tuner (not shown).

Preferably, when one side of the line must be grounded by an unbalanced input circuit, the side of the connecting line 9 which is associated with the section 8 should be grounded, although performance is substantially equivalent when the other side is grounded. This grounded point should be as close to the grounded side of the receiver input circuit as possible, in order to minimize stray ground currents and to maintain transmission line impedance match.

The proper length of section 8 will now be known to those skilled in the art, and it is not necessary to specify a particular length, but 25 inches has been found entirely satisfactory in one commercial embodiment 'of the invention. Theglength of the transmission line 1 should be such that line 1, section 8, and upper band an tenna 5, 6 function collectively for the lower band as a folded dipole antenna. I have found a line I length of approximately 37 inches satis factory in a commercial embodiment of the in vention. Tolerances of -5% in the length of line 1 have been found permissible within the limits of acceptable results.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 is suitable for use in a large size television receiver, the antenna elements then being mounted on a suitable support 34 of stiff cardboard or other insulating material which may be placed on the 7 interior of the cabinet near its top. The portions 5 and 6 are laid out on the left side of the support with their ends'bent at right angles as shown. The transmission line I extends diagonally to the right and to the rear and then diagonally to the right and forwardly, then laterally to the right, then rearwardly. The section 8 extends rearwardly, then rearwardly and to the left, and then laterally to the right as shown. The connecting line 9 and the plug 4 may be disposed toward the front and right side as shown.

Referring now to the Fig. 4 embodiment, which is also suitable for installation in the interior of a television receiver cabinet, a stiff support 5 The general location of the section 8, the connecting line 9 and the plug 4 is substantially the same as in the Fig. 3 embodiment.

The antenna elements may be secured to the support member by any suitable expedient, suc

as the staples 3. I

It will be understood that the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, have been prepared with a view to clarity in description rather than proportion.

While there have been shown and described what are considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of folded dipole antenna having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout the upper standard television. broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the end of the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical .length'of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit eiiectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upperband operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper band antenna cooperatively effectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonant throughout the lower standard. television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

2. .The combination of a folded dipole antenna having an impedance of 300 ohms and a physical length of approximately inches so that it is iresonant within the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor 300 ohm transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section having a physical length of approximately 25 inches interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of substantially one-half wave within said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper band operation, the physical length of said transmission line being approximately 37 inches and the electrical length being such that said line and said section and said upper-band antenna cooperatively function as a broadly tuned antenna which is resonant within the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

3. The combination of a folded dipole antenna broadly resonant throughout the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor transmission line coupled in balance to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band.

iii)

4. The combination of a folded dipole antenna having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 1'74 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor parallel-pair transmission line coupled in balance to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said other terminal being constituted by one lead of said section, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper-band operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper-band antenna cooperatively effectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonant throughout the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles, said output terminals being symmetrically related to the upper-band dipole and non-symmetrically related to the lower-band dipole. A

5. The combination of a folded dipole antenna having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout the upper of two spaced broadcast bands, a two-conductor transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the other'conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantialy at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit eiie'ctively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upperband operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper-band antenna cooperatively eifectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonant throughout the lower of said two spaced bands.

6. The combination of a folded dipole antenna having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout a very high frequency band, a twoconductor transmission line coupled to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a section of resonant line interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having such an electrical length as to provide a short circuit and effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during operation on that band.

7. The combination of a folded dipole antenna having such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 1'74 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a c1osed-circuited section interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper-band operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper-band antenna cooperatively effectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonantthroughout the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles, said closed-circuited section and line comprising a single length of standard parallel-pair line broken to provide two output terminals, the first-mentioned dipole antenna comprising a single length of standard parallel-pair line broken to provide leads connected to leads of the first-mentioned parallel-pair line.

8. The combination of a stifi support member adapted to be disposed in the interior of a television receiver cabinet and flat antenna elements supported within said cabinet by said member, said elements comprising a folded dipole antenna having'such dimensions as to be broadly resonant throughout the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacycles, a two-conductor transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the otherconductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper-band operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper band antenna cooperatively effectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonant throughout the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

9. The combination of a stifi wrapper member adapted to be disposed in the interior of a television receiver cabinet and flat antenna elements which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuited section interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of one-half wave substantially at the center of said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit efiectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper-band operation, the electrical length of said transmission line being such that said line and said section and said upper band antenna cooperatively effectively function as a folded dipole which is broadly resonant throughout the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

, 10. The combination of a flat flexible folded dipole antenna having an impedance of 300 ohms ,and a physical length of approximately 25 inches 'so that it is' resonant within the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacycles, a flat flexible two-conductor 300 ohm transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closedcircuited flat flexible section having a physical length of approximately 25 inches interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of substantially one-half wave within said upper band, whereby it acts as a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper band operation, the physical length of said transmission linebeing approximately 37 inches and the electrical length being such that said line and said section and said upper band antenna cooperativelyfunction as a broadly tuned antenna which is resonant within the lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

11. In combination, a folded dipole antenna for the uper one of two spaced bands, a parallelpair transmission line coupled tosaid antenna, a pair of output terminal means, one of which is provided by one lead of said line and the other of which is provided by one lead of a line section resonant within the upper band, the remaining leads of said dipole and linesection being connected together, said transmission line and line section and upper-band dipole providing a folded dipole for the lower one of said bands.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein the spaced bands are the upper and lower television broadcast band and the length of said lines is 37 inches i5%. 7 5

13. The combination of a flat flexible folded dipole antenna having an impedance of 300 ohms and such a physical length that it is resonant within the upper standard television broadcast band extending from 174 to 216 megacyclesa flat flexible two-conductor 300 ohm transmission line matched to said dipole, a pair of output terminals one of which is integral with one conductor of said line, and a closed-circuitedflat flexible section interposed between the other conductor and the other terminal, said section having an electrical length of substantially one-half wave within said upper band, whereby it acts as .a short circuit effectively to connect said other terminal and said other conductor together during upper band operation, the physical length of said transmission line bein approximately 37 inches 1-5% and the electrical length being such that said line and said section and said upper band antenna cooperatively function as a broadly tuned antenna whichis resonant within the'lower standard television broadcast band extending from 54 to 88 megacycles.

14. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said dipole, said line and said section comprise flexible insulated conductive material.

CHARLES R; EDELSOHN.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS in the OTHER REFERENCES Electronics for May 1947, page 99. i Oak Ridge Antennas, Your Best Move, page 8. 

